cjdb@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Charles Blair) (01/29/86)
Problem: I want to be able to be logged on to two machines simultaneously from an IBM PC (the machine has two communications ports). I want to be able to go back and forth between the two hosts. I will be logged on to one machine using Crosstalk. DOS will not allow me to go back and forth between the two sessions, because even if, for example, I "run" the second communications program from Crosstalk (having used Crosstalk to establish the first communications session), I will need to kill the second session before the DOS "exit" command will take me back to the first session running under Crosstalk. Question: What is the best way to do what I want? Will Microsoft Windows or DesqView work? (I do not have a graphics card; I have 320K of RAM.) I would be particularly interested in hearing from people who have actually tried this successfully. -- Charles Blair ..!ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!cjdb The University of Chicago lib.cb%chip@UChicago.Bitnet
dlnash@ut-ngp.UUCP (Donald L. Nash) (01/30/86)
> Problem: I want to be able to be logged on to two machines > simultaneously from an IBM PC (the machine has two communications > ports). I want to be able to go back and forth between the two hosts. I haven't tried this myself, since I have only one serial line into my office, but try using Kermit. It has a "set port x" command which will allow you to select which serial port you use. Log in on machine "A" on COM1, escape back to Kermit, issue the "set port 2" command, then log into machine "B" on COM2. To change machines, escape back to Kermit and issue the appropriate "set port x" command and "connect" to that machine. As I said, I can't say for sure if this works. Kermit might close the serial port when you change to the other one. However, it's worth a try. Don Nash UUCP: ...!{ihnp4,allegra,seismo!ut-sally}!ut-ngp!dlnash APRA: dlnash@ngp.UTEXAS.EDU
cjdb@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Charles Blair) (02/06/86)
A number of people have sent me excellent suggestions about how to connect to two hosts simultaneously. The ones involving Kermit I have tried and they do work. These involve accessing one system through one port, then escaping back to the PC, changing ports, and logging on to a second system. One can then "escape" from each system in turn while remaining logged on to the other one. I have not tried doing the same thing using Crosstalk (which was also suggested), but I imagine it should work as well, too. My problem, however, is somewhat less straightforward. One system that I need access to can only be accessed satisfactorily by a special program of the type that is now being referred to as not "well-behaved." Since I cannot "push" out of this program--the only way to leave it is to drop the line--I need to run it (if possible, and this is the revised form of my question) as a subordinate task to a program that allows switching between two communications programs, in this case, the badly behaved program I mentioned and something like Crosstalk or Kermit. However, my reading of the literature on things like DesqView and Microsoft Windows does not make it clear whether badly behaved programs *can* in fact be run as background processes. Can they, with one or another of these programs? Again, what I'm really trying to get is information from someone who has solved a problem similar to mine, so I don't shell out money for a program that may or may not work. -- Charles Blair ..!ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!cjdb The University of Chicago lib.cb%chip@UChicago.Bitnet
zemon@fritz.UUCP (Art Zemon) (02/06/86)
In article <1549@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP> cjdb@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Charles Blair) writes: > >Problem: I want to be able to be logged on to two machines >simultaneously from an IBM PC (the machine has two communications >ports). I want to be able to go back and forth between the two hosts. ... > >Question: What is the best way to do what I want? Will Microsoft >Windows or DesqView work? (I do not have a graphics card; Windows will do what you want. Unfortunately, you may need the graphics card to run Windows. Check the documentation before you buy or write back to me and I'll check for you. I don't know about DesqView. -- -- Art Zemon FileNet Corp. ...! {decvax, ihnp4, ucbvax} !trwrb!felix!zemon
ral@pyuxqq.UUCP (R A Levenberg) (02/07/86)
Crosstalk 3.6 (recently released) is Topview compatible,
so I guess it would be possible to have two Crosstalk's running
concurrently under Topview. Microstuf, the Crosstalk developer,
says you could even have a Crosstalk running all day long
downloading (or uploading) files or receiving electronic mail.
Best deal yet: Microstuf will upgrade your crosstalk 3.4 or 3.5 to 3.6
for free!
Anothee idea worth pursuing: you can
change your com port dynamically using the POrt command in Crosstalk.
I don't think doing this would log you off. (In fact, this works.
I just tried it.) It's possible to have 2 .xtk files that set your
parameters depending on which port you're using. Then just do a
LOad com1parm
or
LOad com2parm
assuming your command files are com?parm.xtk.
Here's what I gleaned from an earlier Usenet article:
#: 162498 S0/General Information
20-Sep-85 17:31:51
Sb: #Crosstalk 3.6
Fm: Les Freed (Microstuf) 76004,302
To: all
Thought you all would like to know that Crosstalk-XVI version 3.6 began
shipping today. Updates are available to all registered Crosstalk users for
$20.00 (no charge if you have version 3.4 or later).
New features include the following:
Kermit file transfer protocol
TopView compatability
Auto-Baud rate selection
New higher speeds (for use with LAN's, ISDN, and direct connect)
Hardware (RTS/CTS) handshaking
RS-232 status lights on screen (like having an external modem!)
Improved Xmodem file transfers
VT100 improvements include ANSI 3.64 color mode (with a color display)
Script file improvements (variables!)
Additional remote commands for greater flexibility
Full support for IBM EGA, PGA, Tandy 1000, Compaq, and other no-flicker video
boards.
For update information, call our update department at (404) 998-3998.
Les
--
U. S. Mail: Ron Levenberg
Bell Communications Research
33 Knightsbridge Road
Room PY4 4A-314
Piscataway, NJ 08854
UUCP: ..!{ihnp4,allegra}!pyuxqq!ral
Voice: (201) 885-7831caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX) (02/11/86)
DESQview allows programs that are semi-well-behaved to be run in the background. The main requirement is for the program's CRT driver to be "TopView Aware" with the int 10h ah=ff etc. call. A program that accesses the modem interrupts cannot be swapped to disk - this would be true for a program that assigns any interrupt to itself. Professional-YAM will operate in a *view window. The Crosstalk 3.6 doco indicates it will also. Pro-YAM also runs under Windows, but Windows' non preemptive scheduling interferes with most comm applications.